"Active Education for Sustainable Development-

From Theory to Good Practice"

ECO-UNESCO

Charlotte Ab Ifan Dharsh Pillay Education & Training Officer Environmental Youth Officer

ECO – UNESCO

Video

ECO – UNESCOEstablished in 1986

National Environmental Education and Youth Organisation – Affiliated to the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations. (WFUCA)

Specialise in Environmental Education and environmental work with young people

National Director: Elaine Nevin

NOT FOR PROFITNOT FOR PROFIT

What WE Do?What WE Do? RAISE environmental awareness in children and young people.

PROTECT and conserve the environment.

PROMOTE the personal development of young people through practical environmental projects.

- Teacher & Leader modules

- ECO Youth CHOICES- Youth for Sustainable

Development-Peer Education Programme (TY-students)

- Environmental Workshops

- Events and activities- ECO-UNESCO Clubs

How ?How ?

Develop Educational Publications

Education & Training Programmes

Young Environmentalist Awards Programme

Irelands all-island environmental awards programme for young people

Why we Do it?Why we Do it? Environmental Sustainability One Earth

Environmental Education ?Environmental Education ?‘Through environmental education young people gain wider knowledge, experience and understanding of the world in which they live…….begin to appreciate differences in ways of thinking, working and viewing the world……gradually develop attitudes informed by understanding social and environmental issues that affect them personally, locally, nationally and globally.’

What is What is Education for Education for Sustainable Development Sustainable Development

(ESD)(ESD)??Education for Sustainable Development Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) (ESD) develops and strengthens the develops and strengthens the

capacity of individuals, groups, capacity of individuals, groups, communities and organisationscommunities and organisations to to make judgements and choices in make judgements and choices in

favourfavour of of sustainable developmentsustainable development

Thinking about Sustainable Development….

Definition:‘… development that meets the

needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs’Brundtland Report 1987

The Twin Imperatives of Sustainable Development

“Securing a world based on social justice and democratic accountability”

“Living within our

environmental limits”

(Porritt, 2008)

Video Clip

What are the key themes in the clip?

What do you see?

2005- 2014 UN Decade for Education for Sustainable

Development 4 key areas of Education for Sustainable

Development1. Improving Basic Education

2. Reorienting Existing Education

3. Public Understanding and Awareness

4. Training

ESD Theme Themes in ESD include

poverty alleviation citizenship Peace Ethics responsibility in a

local and global context,

democracy and governance

Justice security

human rights health gender equity cultural diversity production and

consumption patterns

corporate responsibility

environmental protection

natural resource management

biological and landscape diversity

5 Key Areas of Education for Sustainable Development

1. Knowledge

2. Skills

3. Perspective

4. Values

5. Risks

5 Key Areas of Education for Sustainable Development

1. Knowledge People need basic knowledge from the

natural sciences, social sciences and humanities to understand the principles of sustainable development, how they can be implemented, the values involved and ramifications of their implementation.

Knowledge is power?…

5 Key Areas of Education for Sustainable Development

2. Skills: ESD to be successful must give people practical

skills that will enable them to have sustainable livelihoods and to live sustainable lives. These skills will differ according to community conditions. eg:

o The ability to communicate effectively (both orally and in writing)

o The ability to think about systems (both natural and social sciences)

o The ability to think in time - to forecast, to think ahead, and to plan

o The capacity to move from awareness to knowledge to action

5 Key Areas of Education for Sustainable Development

3. Perspectives: ESD requires perspectives that understand

global issues as well as local issues in a global context

Understanding roots of an issue and being able to forecast possible outcomes is part of ESD i.e. over consumption of consumer goods such as

paper leads to deforestation, which in turn is thought to be related to global climate change

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

MethodsThe Key to ESD is that it doesn’t teach a particular subject but requires participants to consider different issues regarding sustainable development = deeper understanding of some key principles ie change

Simulation games

Discussions

Roleplay

Brainstorming

Group work

Practical activities

To a man with a hammer, everything’s a nail

Teaching methodsActive learning

Structured discussions

Simulation games and role-play

Debate

Issue tracking

Photographs , artwork and images

Surveys/questionnaire

Working with texts

ECO-Unesco and ESD

Young Environmentalist Awards

Our 2007 Project:Compost, worms, teabags and beyond…

Grosvenor Grammar School

Eco Carers 07/08/09

Final Tip ! From Grosvenor Grammar School Make it FUN!

Don’t take it all too seriously . Remain optimistic.

Encourage a few trips and fun days out.

William Butler Yeats

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.